Racial Tensions Grow in 2012

Duluth, MN (NNCNOW.com)-- A series of high profile racial incidents have plagued Duluth in 2012, the same year a public effort to combat racism was launched.

Early this year inside City Hall in coordination with 15 partners from Duluth and Superior, the Unfair Campaign was revealed, an effort to combat racism and the issue of white privilege in the Northland.

Fast forward a few months, a group calling itself the Supreme White Alliance gathered here on the steps of City Hall, protesting the Unfair Campaign.

A few months later, a public outcry followed a controversial facebook post by a Duluth TV News Director.

Jason Vincent accepted a different job after the racially charged post went public.

Then, on Election Day 2012, an effigy of President Obama was found hanging on a digital billboard, kitty corner to the Miller Hill Mall.

The incident prompted national headlines, with dissent from minority groups.

Then later in November officials at the University of Minnesota–Duluth sent out an email, condemning the actions that surfaced in a YouTube video, but they wouldn't go into detail what was in the video.

We now know the video showed two female students in blackface spouting racist stereotypes.

And our partners at the Duluth News Tribune another incident of somebody, publicly wearing blackface. This time at Pizza Luce on Halloween.

The list does go on, behind the spotlight and out of the public eye.

It's an issue community leaders are speaking out about in an effort to preserve the dream that our country is crafted by the people, and for the people, not just for a select few.

Tuesday, we'll take a look at what community officials and minority leaders want accomplished to combat the issue of racism in the Northland.